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No hockey player worked harder than Bobby Clarke, the tenacious leader of the Philadelphia Flyers for 15 enjoyable years. As a result, no one personified the Philadelphia Flyers better.

A wonderful talent blessed with great vision and playmaking skills, Clarke is better remembered for his physical talents - a relentless work ethic, a powerful leadership presence, and an unquenchable thirst to win complete with a willingness to do anything it took to capture victory.

As a result Clarke is immortally beloved in Philadelphia and remembered as one of the all time greats in hockey history. However hockey fans elsewhere love to perpetuate his status as one of hockey's most hated villains.

Growing up in the small Manitoba mining town of Flin Flon, all Clarke wanted to do was play hockey. However playing professional hockey must have seemed like a remote dream to Clarke when at age 15 he learned he had diabetes. However his love of the sport wouldn't let this deter him, and he went on to dominate the Canadian junior leagues.

Despite the setback, Clarke compiled back-to-back scoring titles in two full seasons in Flin Flon, accumulating 168 and 137 points, respectively during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons. Clarke is such a legend in western Canadian junior hockey that the Western Hockey League named the trophy awarded to its top scorer in Clarke's honor.

Despite his obviously bright hockey future, teams shied away from Clarke in the annual Entry Draft because of his condition. Despite doctor assurances from the famed Mayo Clinic in Minnesota that diabetes would not interfere with his career as a professional athlete every team passed on Clarke. Even the Flyers, who drafted Bob Currier 6th overall, passed initially. But Philadelphia eagerly snatched him with the 17th overall pick, and his diabetes quickly became a non-issue.

Clarke immediately stepped in and succeeded. By the time he turned 23 years old, he was named captain of the Flyers - the youngest player in league history at that time to be so honored. The same year he won his first of three Hart Trophies as league MVP. And his 104 points made him the first player on a non-Original Six team to reach the 100 point mark.

Clarke was absolutely essential to the Flyers two Cups in the 1970s, the first time an expansion team won the prized trophy. Dave Schultz called him the "heart and soul of our club." Coach Fred Shero said there would be no championships in Philadelphia without Bobby Clarke. Clarke played with so much determination and all of his heart and soul, and he demanded it from every single one of his teammates.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say Clarke was the Pete Rose of hockey, a Charlie Hustle on skates. It could be game in the middle of January and up or down by 6 goals, but Clarke played every shift as if it was overtime in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.

His super-human will should not overshadow his high skill level. Clarke was an incredible defensive player. He was almost always the guy to take the big faceoff, kill a key penalty or defend a lead in the last minute of play. As the statistics suggest, Clarke was a great playmaker as well. Twice he led the NHL in assists, and had 852 in total in his career, compared to 358 goals.

Clarke was also a key member for Canada in international hockey events and he seemed to have great dislike for the great Soviet teams. He was a key player in the 1972 Summit Series. In fact he and Phil Esposito are the two players who get the most credit in that series, other than Paul Henderson of course. Clarke was also a key member of the 1976 Canada Cup championship team.
Clarke however has always been associated with some violent acts against the Soviets. In 1972 he broke the ankle with a deliberate slash to the boot of Valeri Kharlamov, the Soviets chief scoring threat. Clarke also introduced the Soviets to "Broad Street Bullies" hockey in a 1975 exhibition game between the Stanley Cup champs and the Soviets. In that game the Soviets left the ice because of the rough play. As a result Clarke became particularly disliked overseas, and his actions were inaccurate stereotypes of Canadian hockey.

Clarke played until the conclusion of the 1983-84 season. He retired with career totals of 1144 games, 358 goals, 1210 points and 1453 PIMs. In addition to his three Hart Trophies, Clarke also won the Masterton, Pearson, Patrick and Selke Trophies, making him one of the most decorated hockey players in history.

Following his playing days Clarke stayed very active in hockey, serving as general manager in Philly, but also with Florida and Minnesota. His winning record as a manager is impressive, although the Stanley Cup continues to elude him as an executive.

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comments:

God... what is there to say about Bobby that isn't already said? A true captains captain, and one that you wanted on your team, but hated playing against. You knew he was gonna beat you, it was a foregone conclusion. You just didn't know if it was gonna be with his fists, or with a game winner. To borrow a phrase from Sportscenter, you couldn't stop Bobby, you could only hope to contain him. Just that good of a player.

i had the privledge of meeting MR clarke after a phantoms game in philly in the parking lot.What a nice guy . I have been a flyers fan since 1973. It was neat to meet him after being a flyers fan all these years. To the author correct me if im wrong but i thought the flyers played the russians in 1976 the year wayne stephenson played goal when bernie parent got hurt M.EGAN BRISTOL PA

I am sorry for my previous comment. Of course he is a great player. It's just, we russians can't watch all the old 70-s, 80-s games with Canada without anger. Canada players were so injustly brutal..actually it's not a question of brutality. There were many cases when canadian player approches to russian player and hits him for nothing. Just like that. At that time not all the russians responded, we were soviet, everything was controlled and repressed. Well, domage, your guys were just.. not smart enough.

I was a true Buffalo Sabre's fan, until Bobby Clarke came along! I was in love with that man!!!I was a secret Philadelphia fan every time I watched him!! I loved his overwhelming presence on the ice whenever I saw him! I used to dream that I married him; I was 11 years old at the time (but I still have a crush on him-even today).

Mr Flyer what else could be said about our Captain. he lead by his play.he gave it all for the team and all the Flyer fans all the other teams may have hated him but deep down they all wish they had him.Our team leader Mr Bob Clarke.

As A life long Bruin fan, I have to admit, this was one of my favorite players ever in the game of Hockey.

Bobby Clarke played the game with vigor. As for being dirty? I remember Gordie Howe another great player. He would go into the corners and the opposing player he went in with came out bloodied, and no one saw it. This is part of the game we love so much.God bless Bobby Clarke for his contribution to this game we all love.

Bobby Clarke was incredible when I watched him on HNC growing up in Nova Scotia Canada. I never dreamed I would ever see an NHL game, let alone Clarke. Then my family moved to Philly in the late 70's. My Dad got free tickets thru HBO. I took all my friends to see all of these guys I had seen on television. The real Broad Street Bullies. Unfucking believable. NO helmets, no teeth. you gotta love him. Now I teach my girl hockey and how to shift her weight on a slap shot and I tell her to do a Bobby Clarke. As for the fighting, it is hard to explain but it is definitely part of the Canadian Culture. They sometimes just fight for the hell of it. Unprovoked. Blood and spit is flying, then they shake hands and move on. As for people hating Philly. Guess what, speaking for myself and everyone I know from Philly.. They don't care if you don't like them. Really they don't. One more thing. I met Bernie Parent on the Boardwalk in Wildwood NJ 2 years ago. What a genuinely nice guy. As for Bobby, from flin flon..... Go Bobby Go. You are an inspiration. Love that curly hair and the toothless smile. Lisa

My first hero, I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, started playing hockey in 1973 mainly because my dad was a rabid Flyer fan and luckily for me and my brother, a season ticket holder. I played for quite a few ocal clubs and the competition on teams to wear number 16 were fierce, EVERYONE wanted Clarky's number and if you wore it you better be good. You always knew who to watch on opposing teams by who had his number. I got to see his entire carrer up close and personal, indeed his influence on y entire family was enormous. We werea hackey family, my brother and I played year round. My younger brother wore number 16 his entire life, captained his High School team, earned a full scholarship to Providence College a D-1 powerhouse, was captain of that team his senior year, played for the USA Junior National Team in the World Hockey Championship in Helsinki in 1994 and was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 5th round in 1992 directly out of High School, no small feat for a kid out of Philly which wasn't exactly a hockey hotbed. All of these things can be directly attributed to Bobby Clarke. He was our idol!